Bluestone is one of the most beautiful natural materials present in the market. It is divided into two types, Pennsylvanian Bluestone and Shenandoah Bluestone. The main type of Bluestone is the Pennsylvanian Bluestone and it is a type of sandstone quarried in Pennsylvania and New York. Pennsylvanian Bluestone has produced about 470 millions of years ago and comes in a multitude of colors. Shenandoah Bluestone, on the other hand, is a type of limestone found in the Shenandoah Valley of USA. Shenandoah Bluestone has formed around 400 millions of years ago when the Shenandoah Valley was under seawater. It is bluish-grey in color. The color turns grey when exposed to elements.
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Bluestone comes in a plethora of colors such as brown, purple, gray, green, red and much more. There are many beneficial features of bluestone, which makes it popular in the USA.
Types of Bluestones
There are several names given to bluestones by their forms. Some of them have been mentioned here.
Natural cleft bluestone- This kind of bluestone has a rough surface and is hand-cut to get a more natural look. Such types of bluestones vary in thickness.
Thermal bluestone- This type of bluestone has a flamed top which imparts smoothness and available in uniform sizes and shapes.
Tumbled bluestone- Smoother and rounder edges obtained by tumbling characterize this type of bluestone. It is uniform in size and shape.
Irregular bluestone- This is an irregularly shaped bluestone formed by breakage during quarrying. This kind of bluestones put together to get a mosaic pattern.
What are the advantages?
- Bluestone is very durable and capable of withstanding all kinds of weather conditions such as snow, rain and even hot and dry conditions. It remains intact for years.
- Bluestone can be cut in various ways to get many types of looks such as rustic look, refined look, and broken stone appearance.
- Bluestone is widely available in the USA.
- Bluestone is capable of transforming any concrete structure into a magnificent eye-catching entity by giving a boost to its aesthetic quality.
- Bluestone does not require replacement easily because it is very sturdy. Maintenance cost is also meager.
Due to the above advantages, Bluestone is widely used in home improvements all over the USA. Some of the applications have been mentioned here:
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Steps- Bluestone steps enhance the aesthetic appeal of the house significantly and increase the overall resale value of the property. The curb appeal of the house is also significant tly improved with the addition of bluestone steps.
Patios and pool decks- Bluestone imparts a bold and natural look to the patios and pool decks. Bluestones can be laid parallel to the house or in a diagonal pattern. Bluestones of either similar or different size can be used in the pattern.
Window sills- Bluestone window sills dramatically alter the look of the windows. This is because bluestone converts even an ordinary appearance of bricks, wood exteriors and stone to something brilliant.
Mantels and hearths- Bluestone not only enhances the beauty of the mantelpiece or outdoor hearth but also makes them highly durable and weather resistant.
Paving- Bluestone is an ideal choice for paving stones for gardens, walkways, courtyards, driveways, pool surrounds, etc. because of its slip-resistant property, which prevents accidents. Bluestone is being used for paving since the latter half of the 19th century. Bluestone is paving stones that not only imparts a vintage look to the house but is durable and require minimum maintenance.
Bluestone also has some other home applications such as hallways, columns, kitchen countertops, porches, gazebo, artificial waterfalls, façade, etc.